Review: Only Ranbir makes 'Rockstar' rock

Film: Rockstar (U/A)
Director: Imtiaz Ali
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri
Rating: ***

Rockstar is the journey of Janardhan Jakhar (Ranbir) from being a simple campus singer who’s trying to make it big as a professional, to becoming Jordan, the rockstar. His love for Heer (Nargis) is what fuels his rise and fall, as his life is punctuated with love — finding it, realising it and losing it.

The film starts on a high note and builds up to a crescendo by interval, with the tempo only going higher in the first half as Ranbir’s performance, the cinematic prowess and the authentic feel of the film keep you riveted. Full marks to the costume and sets department here. But unfortunately, the second half fails to remain on the same high. Like Ranbir’s descent into a self-destructive pattern the film too goes down the same way. There are parts that you just don’t digest and you are left swearing! Ranbir’s being deported from Prague, just because he trespasses a property; his run-ins with law that happen more than a local pickpocket’s rendezvous with them would. And seriously what was all that about being thrown in jail… rebel without a cause or pause? And where’s the real issue for all that anger??? For someone dying of cancer, Nargis remains remarkably pretty looking all through… Ranbir’s ascent to fame is unexplained and his descent unjustified. No doubt that the angst, pain and anger that one so relates with rock singers is well-captured, but this is not Bollywood’s answer to rock cults such as The Doors.

There’s a reason why despite a struggling-to-boom rock scene, B’wood is yet to get an authentic rock film. The last film that got any close to qualifiying as closest by far was Rock On!! The reason is clear: It’s treading dangerous territory trying to scratch the underbelly of a creative artists’ mind, more so of a rockstar’s. The film gives you a feeling that Imtiaz Ali was going all out for the kill, until he felt compelled to Bollywoodise his film and that’s where the film goes off the cuff.

Music is a high point here, with the strong undercurrents in Sufism and does full justice to the film. The film here clearly belongs to Ranbir and he proves that he is the Rockstar when it comes to romancing the camera. The passion, anger and intensity that he stirs up and his natural progression from a simpleton to a heartbroken singer make the film worth your money. Unfortunately, Nargis fails to match up to Ranbir’s pitch. Agreed that she’s a newcomer, but this was a role where any good actor would’ve made the chemistry with Ranbir crackle. When Ranbir looks into her eyes, you will find yourself hoping that there was instead another actress who could help take Ranbir’s passion to the next level, alas it just bounces off her curls. And what could’ve been a smouldering passionate affair ends up being a damp fizzler instead of a sizzler.

Sure, Ranbir makes the film worth watching, but apart from that, don’t count too much on believability!